CASPER, Wyo. — On Monday, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department asked that hunters who receive a harvest survey respond in order to help the department gather information and feedback on the 2022 hunting season.
“A harvest survey is the best way to gather large amounts of data from the public. We use the responses to estimate harvest, hunter success and hunter effort,” Jason Carlisle, Game and Fish quantitative biologist, said. “Hunter feedback is important information and is a valuable tool for monitoring populations, setting future quotas, season dates and other regulations. We appreciate every response.”
Many hunters can expect to receive a harvest survey via email or standard mail. Hunters who do receive a survey are asked to complete it even if they didn’t hunt or harvest this season.
If hunters receive a survey before their season ends, Game and Fish asks that they wait to complete it until they finish hunting.
“Because of the large volume of antelope, deer and elk license holders, a random sampling of those licensed hunters are surveyed; not all license holders of those species will receive a request to complete a harvest survey,” Game and Fish noted. “However, nearly all license holders for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, black bear, mountain lion, gray wolf, wild turkey, furbearer, sandhill crane, small game, upland game, migratory game bird and light goose conservation order are included in the survey process.”
There is a new harvest survey for sage grouse hunters this year.
“Traditionally, sage grouse hunters are surveyed each spring as part of a larger questionnaire to quantify the harvest of all upland game birds, migratory game birds and small game,” the department said. “This year, Game and Fish will conduct a separate survey of sage grouse hunters shortly after the hunting season concludes. Hunters who respond that they hunted sage grouse in 2022 from the upland bird survey will receive an additional follow-up survey.”
Hunters who respond to antelope, deer or elk harvest surveys will be entered in a drawing to win prizes donated to Game and Fish by the following entities:
- Hi Mountain Jerky
- Huntin’ Fool
- JAX Outdoor Gear
- Kenetrek Boots
- King’s Camo
- Maven Optics
- Montana Decoy
- Mule Deer Foundation
- Muley Fanatic Foundation
- National Bowhunter Education Foundation
- National Wild Turkey Federation
- OnX Hunt
- OtterBox
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
- Sporting Lead Free
- Stone Glacier Hunting Backpacks
- Tetra Tech
- West Laramie Fly Store
- Whitetails Unlimited
- Wild Sheep Foundation
- Wyoming Wildlife Federation
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department
“The antelope, deer and elk surveys are conducted by Tetra Tech, the survey research firm that won the competitive bid to conduct these large-volume surveys on behalf of Game and Fish,” the department noted. “Hunters who have questions about the antelope, deer and elk surveys can contact Tetra Tech’s survey team directly at 1-800-216-0477. For all harvest surveys, hunters can also contact Game and Fish for assistance at (307) 777-4589.”
